mr. a. w. preston’s meteorological notes. 243 
December. 
Much dull, damp, foggy weather prevailed during the greater 
part of this month, with a long period of high barometer. 
There were no very sharp frosts, and a remarkable absence 
of snow. A drying east wind set in on the 31st, with frost. 
The mean temperature of the month was half a degree above 
the average, and the rainfall only about half the normal 
quantity for December. 
The Seasons. 
The following tables show the mean temperature and 
rainfall of the four seasons, together with those of the live 
previous years, compared with the usual averages. Winter 
comprises the three months December to February inclusive ; 
Spring, March to May; Summer, June to August; and 
Autumn, September to November. 
TKM 1 ‘EKATU RE. 
Seasons. 
1QOO. 
1901. 
1902. 
1903. 
1904. 
1905. 
. . 
20- year 
average 
1883-02. 
Departure 
of 1905 
from 
average. 
Winter 
Spring 
Summer 
Autumn 
degrees. 
37*4 
45 -3 
61.6 
51-6 
degrees. 
39 -o 
46.3 
61.4 
50.7 
degrees. 
37-9 
46.3 
5 S -7 
50.1 
degrees. 
41. S 
47-3 
58. 7 
51.2 
degrees. 
3«-3 
47.8 
60.8 
49.8 
degrees. 
39-2 
47-5 
62. 1 
47-5 
degrees. 
38.0 
46.3 
60.3 
50.2 
degrees. 
+ 1.2 
+ 1.2 
+ 1.8 
-2.7 
Year 
49.6 
4S.S 
4S.4 
49-5 
49-3 
49-0 
48. 7 
+ 0.3 
RAINFALL. 
Seasons. 
1 1900. 
1901. ! 1902. 
i 9 ° 3 - 
J904. 1905. 
3S-year 
average 
1865-02. ; 
Departure 
01 1905 
from 
average. 
in. 
in. 1 in. 
in. 
in. in. 
in. 
in. 
Winter 
7.42 
5.SS 6.09 
3-64 
5.96 4.91 
5-96 
- 1.05 
Spring 
4.26 
5.10 6.77 
5-83 
4-59 5-29 
5.27 
+0.02 
Summer 
8.77 
3.61 7.S2 
10.54 
4.70 6.05 
6.94 
-0.S9 
Autumn 
5-32 
5. 1 1 4.14 
9-77 
4.98 S. 11 
8.01 
+0.10 
Year 
26.99 
21.06 22.30 
29.44 
21.50 22.96 
26.18 
- 3. 22 
